As a befitting ending to a fitful year, here’s how Minnesota’s 7th Congressional District Representatives voted on issues that will most definitely affect each and every one of us in one way or another.

NONE

Politics may not be your “thing” but I can guarantee whether you have an interest or not, whether you vote or not, every little thing that happens on “the hill” in Washington, D.C., and how our elected officials vote, can and often does impact your life, your future, your children’s lives and their futures. Ignoring it doesn’t make the issues go away, or make them any less important. While “ignorance is bliss” for some, knowledge is power for others.

This is how Minnesota’s 7th Congressional District Representatives, Sen. Al Franken and

Sen. Amy Klobuchar in the US Senate, and US House Representative, Colin Peterson, voted

on recent issues.

Recent Senate Votes:

* Senate: Balanced Budget Amendment

Balanced Budget Amendment

Vote Rejected (21-79)

The Senate rejected the Democratic balanced-budget amendment that would have taken Social Security off the books and prohibited Congress from cutting taxes for millionaires if the cut increased the deficit. A two-thirds majority is needed in both chambers to send constitutional amendments to the states for ratification.

Sen. Al Franken voted: NO

Sen. Amy Klobuchar voted: YES

* Senate: Balanced Budget Amendment: Vote Rejected (47-53)

The Senate rejected the Republican balanced-budget amendment proposal that would have required a two-thirds majority in both chambers to increase taxes and limited federal spending to 18 percent of the country’s economic output. The August debt limit law required both chambers to consider balanced-budget amendments before the end of the year.

Sen. Al Franken voted: NO

Sen. Amy Klobuchar voted: NO

* Senate: Defense Authorization, FY2012

Vote Agreed to (86-13, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate cleared this $662 billion measure for the president that authorizes defense policies for the current fiscal year. The House passed the bill the previous day.

Sen. Al Franken voted: NO

Sen. Amy Klobuchar voted: YES

* Senate: Reid-McConnell Amdt.; Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2011

Reid-McConnell Amdt.; Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2011

Vote Agreed to (89-10, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate approved this amendment to H.R.3630 that replaces the House bill with the Senate’s compromise bill. The amended bill would extend by 2 months the Social Security payroll tax cut and benefits for the long-term unemployed. The deal also includes a provision directing the White House to expedite the decision on the construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline. The bill subsequently passed by unanimous consent. It is unclear as of press time if the House will pass the Senate bill.

Sen. Al Franken voted: YES

Sen. Amy Klobuchar voted: YES

* Senate: Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2012

Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2012

Vote Passed (72-27, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate cleared this bill to provide $8.6 billion in disaster relief and to combat Social Security fraud, sending it to the president for his signature. The House passed this bill the previous day.

Sen. Al Franken voted: YES

Sen. Amy Klobuchar voted: YES

* Senate: Military Construction-VA Appropriations, FY2012

Military Construction-VA Appropriations, FY2012

Vote Agreed to (67-32, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate gave final approval to the conference report for this $915 billion “megabus” spending bill that provides funds for the rest of the fiscal year for the remaining nine annual appropriations bills. The nine bills are the Military Construction-VA, Defense, Energy-Water, Financial Services, Homeland Security, Interior-Environment, Labor-HHS-Education, Legislative Branch and State-Foreign Operations appropriations bills. The House passed the bill the previous day. The president is expected to sign the bill.

Sen. Al Franken voted: YES

Sen. Amy Klobuchar voted: YES

=================================================================

Recent House Votes:

** House: Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2011

Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2011

Vote Passed (234-193, 6 Not Voting)

The House passed this Republican version of the payroll tax extension bill. The bill would extend the Social Security payroll tax cut for one year, prevent Medicare payments to doctors from being cut more than 27 percent, and overhaul the unemployment benefits program. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) called the bill “dead on arrival” in the Senate.

Rep. Collin Peterson voted: NO

** House: Iran Sanctions

Iran Sanctions

Vote Passed (410-11, 12 Not Voting)

The House voted to strengthen sanctions against Iran that are intended to deny the regime resources to develop nuclear weapons. The Senate is unlikely to pass the bill.